He is probably one of the most brilliant authors of our time. If the majority of our society utilized his philosophies, we'd actually function productively instead of being a welfare state on borrowed time waiting to be overrun by (fill in this part with just about anything). Too bad he posts on his blog so damn infrequently!
JAN. 25 | High-definition DVD player sales during the fourth quarter spiked well above standard DVD at the comparable point in the earlier format's life cycle.
Price-driven promotions are the main reason for high-def's steeper growth curve, according to Paul Erickson, DisplaySearch director of DVD and HD Market Research.
Standard DVD players were priced more steadily during their first months on shelves, he explained, as they were never embroiled in a hyper-competitive format war.
During the last weeks of 2007, Blu-ray Disc players could be bought for less than $300, marking a $200 drop from widespread pricing earlier in the year. HD DVD players were offered at ultra-low $99 pricing at Wal-Mart and Best Buy in November.
"There is a much larger spike at the end of the year for next-generation DVD due to strong performances by both formats for November and December, as well as heavy competition-driven promotions for both Black Friday and the December holiday season," said Erickson.Additionally, retailers have begun bundling free BD players with the purchase of like-branded high-def 1080p TV sets. Such promotions were started in earnest during the fourth quarter and continue into 2008. The deals are thought to be a key reason for BD's sales dominance over HD DVD early this year.
On the heels of Warner Bros. Entertainment's beginning of 2008 announcement about dropping its HD DVD support, Blu-ray set-tops dominated 90% of all high-def hardware unit sales for the week ended Jan. 12, according to the NPD Group. HD DVD set-tops represented 7% and dual-format players totaled 3% of sales during that seven-day frame.
www.videobusiness.com
We are pleased to announce the return of the $6 CD Sale! Currently with over 700 Cd's priced at only $6.00 there is something for everyone! Cd's from labels such as Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Candelight, Severed, Crash Music, and many more! Everything from Death Metal to Black Metal, to just straight up Heavy Metal!
OUT NOW & READY TO SHIP (see below for more info):
MASSACRE (Death) - The Second Coming (CD)
PROFANATICA - The Enemy Of Virtue (DOUBLE CD)
VICTIMIZER - The Final Assault (12" PIC DISC)
VICTIMIZER - The Final Assault (12" LP)
EVIL ARMY - Evil Army (12" LP)
NUNSLAUGHTER / DECREPIT / DANA 60 / DOKTOR BITCH - To Hell With Cleveland (7" EP)
HAVOHEJ - Tungkat Blood Wand (10" MLP)
BESTIAL MOCKERY - Slaying The Life (12" LP)
BESTIAL MOCKERY - Slaying The Life (12" PIC DISC)
EVIL INCARNATE - Waiting For His Return (12" LP)
IMPETIGO - Ultimo Mondo Cannibale / Faceless (12" 2LP)
"Unio Mystica Maxima" is officially sold out, try eBay or your favorite distro and hope for the best!
Our loyal reader Liz spotted this. We defintely don't feel as violated as she does!
The new Spearhead album “Decrowning the Irenarch” is OUT NOW! Available from all major distributors. See Invictus Productions for more information, where a worldwide distribution list can also be found.
Masterful, sophisticated, bombastic death metal art, based on the philosophy and metaphysics of war. For fans of classic death metal like Morbid Angel, Carcass, Angelcorpse, etc.
Engineered by Wojciech Wieslawski (Vader, Decapitated, Hate, Azarath, Witchmaster, etc.) during a 2 week period in June /July 2007. Artwork by Manuel Tinnemans (Urfaust, Pentacle, Bunkur, etc.).
Reviews, interviews and various magazine coverage will follow imminently. Media sources contact Spearhead now.
Spearhead shirts are available from CVLTVS Merchandise. A new range of merchandise reflecting the aesthetics of the latest album will come soon.
ZS: Current Line up?
Mr. V: It's me on guitars, vocals, keyboards, FX and other various stuff like organs and melloron. Mattias Marklund is the other guy and he's doing guitars. For this new album we hired a guy called Johan Lindgren for the bass, but he was just a session member. We like to keep it as a two piece band as we get what we need within that limitation, and if we need something that we can't produce ourselves we hire someone in.
ZS: Why the change from a two piece to a full band?
Mr. V: We're not a full band we just hired Johan in for the bass on this recording. We're friends since childhood and our friendship goes beyond just the music so our philosophy of the band is "why fix something that's not broken".
ZS: Since you changed your sound from a progressive based metal sound to a folkish metal sound, did you change your use of scales or did you just change things tonally?
Mr. V: I think we developed in a very natural way from album to album and this new one is filled with lots of progressive part as well, but we made them more fluent and less fragmented than for example "The Focusing Blur". I just follow my heart and mind while composing and try not to think too much, instead just feel my visions "out" and from that try to form the songs. So I haven't really changed anything it's more about what drives my inspiration at the moment.
ZS: Why did you change the sound musically and lyrically (unless I have things wrong lyrically)? Are you trying to return to your roots a la "Till Fjalls"?
Mr. V: No, we're not returning; this is a leap forward with lots of fresh ideas. But as the lyrics is in Swedish again people may think that we're going back to our past to get inspiration, but that's wrong. We are constantly evolving as a band and it's very important to us to proceed in that progress on, still keeping the core of the band intact. The lyrics is what I always write about : the relation between man and nature and that relation comes in a multitude of ways.
ZS: Any upcoming tours?
Mr. V: We're not a live act at this moment due to several reasons like family, studying, work etc.
ZS: Do you consider yourself a big/famous musician?
Mr. V: Not at all. I'm not interested in becoming one either, I like to be anonymous and let the music be in focus. We do this for the art itself and not for to glorify ourselves as we see it very serious. Passion is the main factor behind this band and nothing else really matters for us.
ZS: Who are some of your influences musically and lyrically? What about philosophy wise?
Mr. V: I listen nearly only to progressive and symphonic rock from the 70s, so if I have any musical influence it's from those genres and era. When it comes to philosophy I'm into various segments but still I return to Aristotle while trouble shooting my mind.
ZS: " Cosmic Genesis" had a very astronomic look to it, does the subject interest you? Does science interest you in general?
Mr. V: I'm a nature freak so of course science is a huge interest. When you start to understand some of the beautiful processes of nature itself you can't go back, it's an addiction to learn more and science hold many keys to that kind of secrets. I've been into astronomy since I was a kid and got my first telescope, it's nature in a really grand form.
ZS: How does the recording process go for you? Do you record some basic tracks and then hand them over to the other musicians so they can play that themselves or is it something else?
Mr. V: We recorded the whole album ourselves at our own studios and that was a wise decision as we could take our time to really record when the spirit was there. Then we got to another studio to mix it and the whole thing was a very smooth process. Johan worked out bass part in collaboration with us but mostly on his own.
ZS: Which do you prefer: growling or singing? I know that they go along with the music but do you prefer to go with a more aggressive sound in your songs or a more mellow sound
Mr. V: I like both as they both bears a certain atmosphere and having them both is good for dynamics and it gives the music more dimensions.
ZS: With the growing debate of equipment I have to ask this question. Which do you prefer: digital or analog equipment?
Mr V: Both, hehehe... I use both and are very happy with it.
ZS: Any last words for this interview?
Mr. V: Check out the album, it's adventurous.
Gold Futures Top $900 as Dollar Drops; Platinum Jumps to Record
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs. In other words, redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.
One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father.
He responded by asking how she was doing in school.
Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.
Her father listened and then asked, “How is your friend Audrey doing?”
She replied, “Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus. College for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.”
Her wise father asked his daughter, “Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0? That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.”
The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, “That's a crazy idea! How would that be fair? I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree! She played while I worked my ass off!”
The father slowly smiled, winked, and said gently, “Welcome to the Republican Party.”
Infidel Entertainment is currently seeking promoters/bands interested in booking or supporting the following dates/locations for the forthcoming Teratism tour in June/July 2008. Dates at this time should be considered tentative and may be subject to change.
Nuclear War Now! Productions did us all a favor by re-releasing these two early masterpieces late last year after Necropolis Records (remember them?) tried to conquer the world in the late 90s and choked miserably. After both came out CD, plans were on deck for vinyl releases but NWN relinquished the rights back to the band amicably. So it appears that there won't be any CD repressings of these after the initial pressing, and you'll be forced to resort to eBay where you'll surely get raped. Not exactly ideal. So it's best you jump on the opportunity right quick to scoop these directly from NWN, at a bargain price of $5 each. Wild and rowdy blackthrash in the vein of the glory days of Brazilian underground metal. NWN also has a killer selection of other items at outrageously low prices, and every single one of their releases are given the royal treatment and are more than worth owning.
DC: It's been a long time since metal has heard from you. Inquiring minds what to know, where have you been?
JG: HAHAHAHA! I'VE BEEN HIDING UNDER A ROCK PERFORMING RITUALS! NO REALLY, I STEPPED AWAY FROM THE ACTIVE SCENE, PER SE, FOR A LONG TIME. NEVER GAVE UP ON METAL THOUGH AS IT'S MY LIFE AND BLOOD SINCE 1977!
DC: Would you officially say you came out of retirement?
JG: NEVER RETIRED, JUST BEEN LAYING LOW AWAY FROM THE MASSES, THE SHEEP AND THE CLIQUES WE CALL THE "SCENE".
DC: The world of death metal is much different since "Into Cold Darkness" came out in 1995. The music has exponentially grown into mainstream acceptance and is getting some serious backing from MTV, satellite radio, and other outlets besides the internet that make it more accessible to the masses. What is your take on this?
JG: IT'S ALL GOOD TO A POINT. I GUESS. IT HELPS PROMOTE A BAND AND THEIR RECORDS ALONG WITH BOOSTING INTEREST METAL IN GENERAL. BUT NOTHING BEATS THE GOOD OL DAYS OF TAPE TRADING AND SNAIL MAIL CORRESPONDENCE!
DC: What is the vision of Godless Rising? Does it concern you when you hear the project referred to as "featuring the former lead singer of..."?
JG: THE VISION IS TO PLAY BRUTAL, OLD SCHOOL DEATH METAL, PERIOD, AND BE HAPPY DOING IT. NO, THE CONNECTION WITH MY FORMER BAND VITAL REMAINS IS WELL ACCEPTED BY ME AS IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING WHAT WE DID THEN.
DC: With Godless Rising, are you in in this time for the long run?
JG: I AM FOR SURE! THE OTHERS HAVE SINCE PACKED IT IN WITH GODLESS RISING. COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ANY OF THEM, REALLY.
DC: It appears you have the bragging right of saying you were the Vital Remains vocalist that lasted the longest as the vocalist spot at one point seemed to be a revolving door with them, although it's probably a safe bet that they will retain Glen Benton from now on because it makes financial and marketing sense.
JG: LIKE I SAID, IT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE THEN WITH TONY AND THE REST. BUT I DONT CARE TO BRAG, I AM WHO I AM, PERIOD!
DC: Godless Rising has a good home with Moribund Records, a most venerable label whose good reputation and dedication to the craft has kept it alive all these years while other labels that arose at the same time have disappeared off of the face of the earth. Why did you choose them as your label?
JG: MORIBUND IS NOTHING BUT POSITIVE ENERGY AND UNHOLY BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN MYSELF AND ODIN. ODIN AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN LONG TIME FRIENDS OF THE SCENE AND WE BOTH UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AS TO WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT. MORIBUND RECORDS GETS MY DOUBLE IRON FIST SALUTE!
DC: After laying low for this long, do you wish to pursue projects, say, in other genres?
JG: AS LONG AS IT'S BRUTAL METAL, OF COURSE. I WOULD LOVE TO SING IN A THRASH BAND TO RELEASE MY SECOND STYLE OF VOKILLS NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD!
DC: A "best of" compilation of Vital Remains material came out in 2006 featuring early demo and 7" material that you contributed to. The book alone is especially amazing, and my understanding is that it was a limited edition release. What was your reaction when you first heard this was being compiled?
JG: I'M AWARE OF THE CD.. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THESE LONG OUT OF PRINT AND SOUGHT AFTER GEMS PUT ONTO A SINGLE CD FOR THE FANS, NEW AND OLD, TO GET TO HEAR WHAT VITAL SOUNDED LIKE IN OUR EARLY DAYS. ALTHOUGH I DON'T OWN ANY COPIES I HAVE SEEN THE ENTIRE LAYOUT.
DC: How do you feel about the imminent "death" of the CD and other packaged media with the advent of download culture, especially coming from a musical genre where amassing a large collection of physical music and hanging out in independent records stores in something we are known for taking great pleasure in?
JG: WELL I MISS THE OLD DAYS OF NOT KNOWING WHAT A PARTICULAR BAND SOUNDED LIKE WITHOUT FIRST BUYING THEIR LP OR GOING TO A CONCERT TO HEAR AND SEE THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE COMPUTER HAS ITS GOOD POINTS AND OF COURSE BAD POINTS. IT'S ALL PUBLICITY FOR THE BANDS.
DC: There is a strong belief among many people in the music industry that the large record companies will inevitably collapse under the insurmountable pressure to adapt to downloading, and that they should take a large part of the blame themselves for this for failing to adapt in a timely, appropriate manner. What say you?
JG: I GUESS WE WILL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. REMEMBER, ALL THINGS GO IN CYCLES.
DC: I myself strongly believe that people who collect music, COLLECT music, and will hold out until the bitter end, until the last CD ever is pressed. To me a massive collection of metal is something I take great pride in. Although extremely niche, vinyl has persevered over the years and is rabidly collected by a good number of people to this day. Do you think underground music of all genres will have this same fate in the future, still coming in packaged media yet having to be bought from certain outlets expressly dedicated to collectors and enthusiasts?
JG: I DON'T DWELL ON THIS TOO MUCH. I WILL ALWAYS GET MY METAL REGARDLESS OF HOW I HAVE TO OBTAIN IT. IF I LIKE IT, I'LL GET IT. SHIT, MY VINYL COLLECTION HAD WELL OVER 8,000 PIECES OF METAL AT ONE POINT.
DC: What are you listening to these days?
JG: STILL CAUGHT UP IN THE GREAT 80S METAL SCENE, BUT FOR NEWER STUFF I LIKE BANDS LIKE DEKAPITATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, AVENGER OF BLOOD, BLASPHERIAN FROM TEXAS, OBESIANCE FROM TEXAS, ARIES KINGDOM AND STUFF LIKE THAT ALONG WITH ALL THE CLASSIC SWEDISH DEATH METAL.
DC: I want the final question to be a very strong one; some people just don't get the draw to underground music, saying people feign a passion for it just out of spite toward society and the need to be different and nonconformist. How would you describe why this music is so alluring to a person like you?
JG: AH! WELL THE SHEER BRUTALITY AND AGGRESSION IS WHAT DRAWS ME NOW! BUT IN THE PAST WHEN I WAS BUYING VINYL AND I WAS YOUNGER THE KILLER COVERs DREW ME TO METAL BUYING. IT WAS AND NEVER WILL BE JUST A PASSING PHASE FOR ME, I'M IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL...METAL TILL DEATH!
Any last words or parting wisdom?
JG:FOR WORDS OF WISDOM ONE MUST SIT WITH ME FOR A LONG CHAT ON METAL HAHAHAHAHAHA! BUT OTHER WISE THANKS AGAIN FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE INTERVIEW... SEE YOU ALL SOON.... UP THE IRONS OF METAL!
Thanks! Many hails!
www.myspace.com/godlessrising
